This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Find
out about restaurants all around
the World (Walt
Disney World
that is!)

Figure
out what choices are the best
for your taste and budget

Learn
how to meet your favorite Disney
characters at meals

If
your
idea
of theme
park
food
variety
is having
cheese
added
to your
hamburger,
you
are
in for
a big
surprise.
Walt
Disney
World
has
grown
over
the
years
to include
an amazing
array
of dining
selections.
There
are
counter
service
fast
food
joints,
elegant
fine
dining,
and
food
stands
with
everything
from
soft
drinks
and
ice
cream
to fresh
fruit
and
roasted
turkey
legs.
You
can
select
cuisines
from
all
around
the
world,
or some
really
great
American
classics.
You
may
also
be surprised
by a
growing
effort
to bring
healthier
choices
to the
parks
and
to meet
specialty
diet
requirements.

Making
your
dining
arrangements
ahead
of time
is very
important.
Since
the
right
meals
can
make
a vacation,
underestimating
your
true
food
costs
could
just
as easily
ruin
it.
So why
is planning
important?
Well,
some
restaurants
are
so popular
that
you
have
to make
an advance
reservation
weeks
before
you
arrive
if you
want
to get
in.
You
also
want
to be
sure
to budget
out
what
you
are
going
to spend
on food.
While
there
are
dining
options
to fit
all
cost
ranges,
it would
be easy
to overspend
if you
don't
pay
attention.

So
what
you
should
do with
this
chapter
is get
an idea
of where
you
want
to eat,
what
it will
cost
you,
and
for
which
meals
you
will
need
to make
an advance
reservation
arrangement
ahead
of time.

In
this
chapter,
the
restaurants
are
organized
by location,
and
then
by type.
At most
places
throughout
Walt
Disney
World
you
have
the
option
of dining
at a
Table
Service
restaurant,
a Counter
Service
restaurant,
or to
simply
pick
up a
snack
along
the
way,
so I
have
organized
them
in those
categories.
So pick
your
favorites,
plan
your
dining,
and bon
appétit!

To
Do
List

Review
the dining options based on where
you plan on being for each meal
during your vacation

Select
the restaurant that best suits
your group's
appetite and budget

Schedule
the advanced reservation arrangements
for all your meals

Scheduling
Meals:
The
Disney
Advanced
Reservations
System

Walt Disney World restaurants now accept reservations, but they are a bit
different than what you might be used to. The system is easy. Simply call
407-WDW-DINE, which translates to 407-939-3463. Tell them what restaurant you
would like to go to, party size, desired time, and so on. Your advanced
reservation schedule means that when you arrive and check in, you are placed
ahead of anyone who is waiting for a table but doesn’t have an advanced
reservation arrangement. And since they only accept a limited number of advanced
reservations per hour, it is in most respects exactly like a reservation. You
can write down your confirmation number on the Trip Card in the back of the
book, and you should plan to arrive at the restaurant 10–15 minutes before
your seating time. You can make an advanced reservation arrangement for most
Disney restaurant as early as 90 days ahead of time.

NOTE

In all my travels to Walt Disney World I have never been seated more than 10
minutes after my scheduled advanced reservations time. I am sure someone out
there has a story of disappointment, but for me it has worked as well, or
better, than most reservation systems at restaurants back home.

If you know of a few restaurants where you really want to dine, make those
advanced registration calls from home before you leave on your trip. In the
cases of these more sought-after restaurants, you will want to call in exactly
90 days ahead of time, and as soon as the phone lines open at 7 a.m. Eastern
time:

Once Upon a Time Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal
Table

Lunch at the Crystal Palace

Dinners on certain holidays (New Year’s, Christmas,
Thanksgiving)

Dinners at restaurants with a view of fireworks

The Disney Spirit of Aloha show at the Polynesian
Resort

The Hoop de Doo Musical Review

NOTE

Advanced reservations, which used to be known as "Priority Seating,"
are basically like reservations, but with a few differences. But there is one
restaurant that does take standard reservations. Victoria &
Albert’s, which is located at the Grand Floridian Resort, accepts
them. It is the most upscale restaurant in all of Walt Disney World, and the
experience is expensive but exceptional.

Also, the dinner shows require advanced reservations. The Spirit of Aloha and
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review dinner shows allow for reservations to be made up to
two years in advance, and the Mickey’s Backyard BBQ can be booked one year
in advance.